National Polls Show Economy As Bigger Concern Over Environment

While climate change and global warming are both serious national issues, a new poll shows that Americans are focusing their concern on the broken economy and the unemployment rate. This is tough news for environmentalist groups that were excited about the momentum the green movement received when the Obama administration took over.  While health care reform caused energy policy to play second fiddle at Congressional hearings, apparently the environment is taking a backseat to new jobs policies as well.  It’s a discouraging uphill battle for conservationists, however, it’s not all that bad.  New jobs can come hand in hand with a decision to mass produce green technology.  However, until any energy policy bill is passed, the latest polls favor the decision for new jobs, and the opinion is indifferent of the industry they may come from.

According to a national poll taken by CNN, 51% of Americans say that the economy is a bigger concern than the changing environment and climate. This number is much higher than the 37% who felt the economy was the bigger concern back in 2006 before the recession.  It’s tough to pass green energy policy when more than half of Americans feel it should happen after the economy can be fixed and employment can return.

Fixing Economy Next On President’s List

With health care reform signed, sealed, and delivered, President Obama looks to move on to the next objective on his list: fixing the economy. A day after he signed the landmark health care bill into law, the President met with congressmen Barney Frank and Chris Dodd to talk about creating a bill that will help set up new financial regulations. The President and two congressmen are hoping this will bring back jobs to American people who desperately need work. A new bill is also a giant step forward in making sure that regulations are set up that prevents an economic crisis like this from ever happening again.

The President is striving to find political help for this cause and may have the strong support of Congress who just passed a financial bill last year. However, just like with health care, there are opponents who are against more government regulation and sanctions. However, with the latest passing of the turbulent health care reform bill, many in Congress feel that a finance bill can happen now rather than later.

The President’s press secretary, Robert Gibbs, went on to say that financial reform is something that the President expects to take on next and that he will hopefully have a bill to sign by the end of the year. This shows that, as big of an issue health care was for the President, he still realizes that the nation can’t fully recover without a fixed economy and strong workforce. Hopefully, like with health care, the President will accomplish that goal.